ENSURING ONLINE INFORMATION USABILITY

The debate around developing online information systems has tended to focus on the technology options. These include hypertext, image processing, document management, storage, communications and expert systems. Little attention has been paid, however, to the content of the information to be put online. Without content that is user-oriented, in terms of its organisation and presentation, an online information system is worthless. People will only be lured away from paper if the on line system is more usable. Various methods have been devised for improving usability of online information. This paper will concentrate on one in particular, known as Information Mapping. Information Mapping is a research-based method for analysing, organising and visually presenting information. Developed over 30 years by Dr Robert Horn while at Columbia and Harvard Universities and later in commercial applications, the method helps ensure that all the expenditure normally associated with online systems is maximised for user productivity. The paper will illustrate the method by comparing mapped with unmapped information, supported by empirical research findings in a variety of case studies.